Sabbagh: Syrian people’s Suffering continues because of Western countries’ practices
NEW YORK, Feb.25, (ST)-Syria’s permanent representative to the UN Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh has affirmed that the suffering of the Syrian people continue due to the practices of the western countries whose interests and agendas prevailed over the lives of Syrians and the security and stability of the region.
He added that improving the humanitarian situation requires lifting illegitimate coercive measures, ending foreign occupation of Syrian lands, and halting support for terrorist organizations and separatist militias.
The ambassador’s remarks came during the session of the United Nations held on Friday.
He asserted that the Syrian state is doing its utmost to improve the humanitarian situation and to ensure the main requirements and services as well as to rebuild what have been destroyed by terrorism and to return to the track of sustainable development and to guarantee the return of displaced people to their houses.
But the efforts of the Syrian state are hindered by the wrong policies of the western countries and the violations of the international law and UN charter besides the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria.
Wheat
“Syria, which was yearly producing 2.5 million tonnes of wheat before the start of the war on it, has today to import 1.5 million tonnes of wheat every year to ensure bread to citizens because of looting the Syrian wheat by the US occupation and the separatist “ Syrian Democratic Forces” militia in northeast Syria,” Sabbagh said.
He referred to the Turkish regime’s violation of the bilateral agreement related to the flow of Euphrates River and its use of drinking water as weapon against SyriN citizens.
Power, health , telecommunication , aid
The ambassador in addition pointed out that Syria was producing 9500 MW of power while it produces today 2600 MW because of the looting of power equipment by the US occupation and its tools and because of the terrorist attacks that were carried out against power sector by terrorist organizations and the so-called US-led coalition .
He went on to say that the health sector in Syria suffers from sharp shortage of medicines amid the spread of Covid 19 pandemic due to the siege imposed on the country.
Sabbagh also talked about the damage that hit the sectors of banking, telecommunication and transportation because of the coercive measures o the country.
Regarding the UN resolution No. 2585 that was adopted 8 months ago, the ambassador clarified that some western countries hinders the implementation of this resolution. “ The UN sent only 2 aid convoys composed of 28 trucks out of 16 convoys composed of 1261 trucks to northwest Syria because of the obstacles put by the Turkish regime and its tools.”
Reconciliation and settlement processes
Sabbagh clarified that the UN Special Envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, visited Syria last week and held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Al-Miqdad and the Head of the Committee of discussing the constitution, MP. Ahmad Al-Kuzbari, where Pedersen was briefed on all the significant steps that have been achieving in reconciliation and settlement processes in Daraa ,Deir Ezzour, Hassakah and the liberated areas of Raqqa province which have enabled a large number of Syrians to return to their normal life ,in addition to the amnesty decrees which are a very significant step that must be considered.
“ Syria is committed to the political solution based on Syrian-Syrian dialogue owned and led by Syria and under the full commitment to Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, Sabbagh said.
He also underlined the importance of implementing the context of the reference paper that regulates works of the committee and not to disregard its provisions under any context.
“ The constitutional committee’s work is an exclusive right for Syrians and that the external sides have no right to interfere , hinder or impose timetables or pre-summaries for its results,” Sabbagh concluded.
Basma Qaddour